BENGALS

Bengals sign QB Jason Campbell

The Bengals today signed free agent QB Jason Campbell, a veteran of 86 NFL games with 79 starts who last season earned an AFC Offensive Player of the Week award for Cleveland.

Campbell (6-5, 230; Auburn) is a 10th-year NFL player in 2014. He entered the NFL as a first-round draft choice of Washington (25th overall) and played for the Redskins through 2009. He was traded to Oakland in 2010 and was the Raiders’ starter in ’10 and ’11, until an injury prematurely ended his ’11 season. Hue Jackson, Bengals offensive coordinator for 2014, was Campbell’s offensive coordinator in ’10 and his head coach in ’11.

Campbell went to Chicago as an unrestricted free agent for 2012 and to Cleveland as a UFA for 2013. He started eight of Cleveland’s last nine games last season, missing one due to a concussion, passing 180-of-317 (56.8 percent) for 2015 yards, with 11 TDs and eight INTs. He has 16,697 career passing yards, with 87 TDs against just 60 INTs. His career passer rating is 81.8. He was released by Cleveland on March 12.

“Jason obviously has extensive playing and starting history,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, “and as a back-up (to Bengals starter Andy Dalton), he can provide the stability and experience we’re looking for in that role. His experience will be a great asset to our other quarterbacks.

“He can play and win games for you if you need him. He’s got great stature (6-5, 230) and strength, the ability to stand in there under pressure and really throw the ball down the field.”

Campbell took over Cleveland’s starting QB position in Game 8 of last season and posted 100-plus passer ratings in his first two starts, at Kansas City and vs. Baltimore. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his Nov. 3 performance against Baltimore, leading a 24-18 win with 23 completions in 35 attempts for 262 yards, three TDs and no INTs (rating of 116.6).